The Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize

About this Prize

Please note that this Prize closes a little later than the other four Prime Minister’s Science Prizes. Entries need to be received by Monday 9 October 2017.

This prize is for a Year 12 or Year 13 student who has undertaken a science research, mathematics, technological or engineering project.

The prize is worth $50,000 to the recipient to support their tertiary education. 50% of the prize will be awarded on selection and a further 50% awarded the following year.

Eligibility

Nominees must be studying in either Year 12 or Year 13 in a New Zealand registered school.

Nominees must be either a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident.

Nominees must be undertaking or have recently completed a science research or technological/engineering project.

Nominators can be the Principal from the nominee’s school or a regional science and technology fair chief judge or a representative/mentor from a particular programme for example CREST or Brightsparks.

Selection criteria

Adjudication will be based on the following criteria:

Quality of literature review and objective setting process.

The quality of the design or investigative process for the research or development.

Execution of the developmental or investigative process.

Soundness of the interpretation of data and results.

The quality of conclusions reached in regard to application of the project or further work.

Selection panel

The selection panel is selected by the secretariat and the Prime Minister’s decision to present the Prize will have regard to the advice of the selection panel.

It is recognised that occasionally members of the judging panels will know applicants or have other conflicts of interest. They will be expected to declare all such knowledge and conflicts of interests. In the case of knowing an applicant the Chair of the selection panel will rule if this is significant enough for the judge to be stood down from the panel for that applicant. (In the case of the Chair having a conflict of interest the decision will be made by another member of the Panel who has been identified in this role at the beginning of the process). If there is a conflict of interest the judge will stand down for that application.

The judging panel will not enter into any correspondence concerning its deliberations. All inquiries should be directed to the Secretariat.

Note that information on matters such as ranking, or names of unsuccessful nominees, will not be disclosed.

Judging process

The Panel will make its decision based on the information completed and provided by the applicant and nominator. The judging panel reserves the right to interview a nominee.

Checklist of what to include

Application form

Nominator form

One page executive summary about the science or technology/engineering project.

Report (maximum five pages).

Raw data, graphs, photos, computer outputs can be included as appendices to the report.

The nominee must make a video (maximum 4 minutes) where they talk about their project. This will supplement any written material. Make the video ‘unlisted’ which means that when you provide the link only those with the link can see it.

Each nomination must be accompanied by a statement from the supervising or monitoring teacher or the nominator that the work reported is the student’s own work, setting out the extent of any assistance that the student has received from others.